title: Progression in disability and regional grey matter atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In multiple sclerosis (MS) regional grey matter (GM) atrophy has been associated with disability progression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare regional GM volume changes in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients with progressive and stable disability, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
  
  
  METHODS
  We acquired baseline and 1-year follow-up 3-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of RRMS patients, using two 1.5-Tesla scanners. Patients were matched pair-wise with respect to age, gender, disease duration, medication, scanner and baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) into 13 pairs, with either progressive EDSS (≥ 1 point change y(-1)) or stable EDSS, as well as into 29 pairs with either progressive Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) at ≥ 0.25% decrease in y(-1) in any component, or stable MSFC. We analysed longitudinal regional differences in GM volumes in the progressive and stable EDSS and MSFC groups, respectively, using VBM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant GM volume reductions occurred in the right precuneus, in the progressive EDSS group. Differential between-group effects occurred in the right precuneus and in the postcentral gyrus. Further longitudinal GM volume reductions occurred in the right orbicular gyrus, in the progressive MSFC group, but no between-group differences were observed (non-stationary cluster-wise inference, all P(corrected) < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested a direct association of disability progression and regional GM atrophy in RRMS.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naegelin
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filli
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuster
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Traud
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smieskova
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mueller-Lenke
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gass
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.forename: Iris-Katharina
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vrenken
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Ernst-Wilhelm
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Radue
authors.forename: Stefan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendfeldt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Disability; Expanded Disability Status Scale; Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite; grey matter atrophy; magnetic resonance imaging; multiple sclerosis; precuneus; relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis; voxel-based morphometry